# Gareth Edwards (filmmaker)

Gareth James Edwards (born 13 July 1975) is a British filmmaker. His accolades include three British Independent Film Awards and nominations for the British Academy Film Awards and Primetime Emmy Awards.
Edwards first gained recognition for Monsters (2010), an independent film in which he served as writer, director, cinematographer, and visual effects artist. He subsequently directed the big-budget adventure film Godzilla (2014) and the science fiction films Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) and The Creator (2023).

## Career

Gareth Edwards was born on 13 July 1975 in Nuneaton, Warwickshire. He is of Welsh parentage. Edwards wanted to direct his own films since childhood, stating that "Star Wars is definitely the reason that I wanted to become a filmmaker". He attended Higham Lane School, followed by college at North Warwickshire College of Technology and Art (now NWSLC), completing a BTEC National Diploma in Audio Visual Studies under lecturers such as Graham Bird. Edwards studied film and video at the Surrey Institute of Art & Design, University College in Farnham, graduating in 1996. In 2012, he received an honorary Master of Arts from UCA. Edwards got his start in visual effects, creating digital effects for shows including Nova, Perfect Disaster and Heroes and Villains, for which he created 250 visual effects. In 2008 he entered the Sci-Fi-London 48-hour film challenge, for which a film had to be created start-to-finish in two days and within certain criteria. Edwards won the contest with his short film Factory Farmed and went on to write and direct Monsters, his first feature. Edwards created the visual effects for Monsters using off-the-shelf equipment. Besides the two main actors, the crew consisted of just five people.
The success of Monsters brought sufficient awareness in Hollywood to land first major projects. After the film's release, he had interviews with several studios, including Legendary Pictures. In January 2011, Edwards got his first major feature deal, to direct the 2014 Godzilla reboot from Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures.
Edwards directed Rogue One, the first Star Wars stand-alone film, written by Chris Weitz and Tony Gilroy, based on a story by John Knoll and Gary Whitta, starring Felicity Jones, and released on 16 December 2016.
Three of his influences for filmmaking are George Lucas, Steven Spielberg and Quentin Tarantino. In May 2016, Edwards exited Godzilla: King of the Monsters in an amicable split with the studio to work on smaller scale projects.
In February 2020, it was reported that Edwards was set to direct and write a film with the working titled True Love for New Regency, with Rogue One co-producer Kiri Hart serving as producer for the project. The film has since been renamed and released in 2023 as The Creator. The film stars John David Washington. It marked his second collaboration with Rogue One cinematographer Greig Fraser and his first collaboration with composer Hans Zimmer. It was released on 29 September 2023.
On 29 January 2024 Edwards was named as an honorary Freeman of the borough in his hometown of Nuneaton by Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council during a civic awards ceremony at the Town Hall.
In February 2024, it was reported that Edwards was set to direct Jurassic World Rebirth for Universal Pictures scheduled for 2 July 2025. Edwards replaced David Leitch, who had left the project over creative differences with the studio.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Notes |
| 2010 | Monsters | Yes | Yes | Also director of photography, visual effects and production designer |
| 2014 | Godzilla | Yes | No | |
| 2016 | Rogue One: A Star Wars Story | Yes | No | Cameo role: Rebel Soldier who uncouples the Tantive IV |
| 2023 | The Creator | Yes | Yes | Also producer and camera operator |
| 2025 | Jurassic World Rebirth | Yes | No | Post-production |
Short film
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Notes | Ref. |
| 2008 | Factory Farmed | Yes | Yes | Also cinematographer and editor | |
Other credits
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2007 | In the Shadow of the Moon | Digital rostrum | Documentary film |
| 2014 | Monsters: Dark Continent | Executive producer | |
| 2017 | Star Wars: The Last Jedi | Cameo role: Resistance Trench Soldier | |

### Television

TV film
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Ref. |
| 2005 | End Day | Yes | Yes | |
Documentary series
| Year | Title | Notes | Ref. |
| 2006 | Perfect Disaster | Episodes "Super Tornado" and "Solar Storm," Also visual effects supervisor | |
| 2008 | Heroes and Villains | Episode "Attila the Hun" | |
Other credits
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2002–2003 | Nova | Animator | Documentary series (2 episodes) |
| 2003 | Seven Wonders of the Industrial World | Visual effects | Documentary series (7 episodes) |
| 2004 | Dive to Bermuda Triangle | Digital effects | Documentary TV film |
| 2005 | Hiroshima | Digital artist | Documentary TV film |
| 2005 | Space Race | Digital effects designer / Digital effects artist | Documentary series (2 episodes) |
| 2005 | UFO's: The Secret Evidence | Visual effects supervisor | Documentary TV film |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
| 2006 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Special Visual Effects | Perfect Disaster | Nominated |
| 2006 | British Academy Television Craft Awards | British Academy Television Craft Award for Best Special, Visual & Graphic Effects | Hiroshima | Won |
| 2010 | 6th Austin Film Critics Association Awards | Best First Film | Monsters | Won |
| 2010 | 13th British Independent Film Awards | Best British Independent Film | Monsters | Nominated |
| 2010 | 13th British Independent Film Awards | Douglas Hickox Award | Monsters | Nominated |
| 2010 | 13th British Independent Film Awards | Best Achievement In Production | Monsters | Won |
| 2010 | 13th British Independent Film Awards | Best Technical Achievement | Monsters | Won |
| 2010 | 13th British Independent Film Awards | Best Director | Monsters | Won |
| 2010 | National Board of Review | Top Ten Independent Films | Monsters | Won |
| 2010 | Sitges Film Festival | Best Special Effects | Monsters | Won |
| 2010 | SXSW Film Festival | Audience Award | Monsters | Nominated |
| 2010 | 14th Toronto Film Critics Association Awards | Best First Feature | Monsters | Runner-up |
| 2011 | Evening Standard British Film Awards | Breakthrough Filmmaker | Monsters | Won |
| 2011 | IGN Movie Awards | Best Sci-Fi Movie | Monsters | Nominated |
| 2011 | 37th Saturn Awards | Best International Film | Monsters | Won |
| 2011 | 37th Saturn Awards | Best DVD Special Edition | Monsters | Nominated |
| 2011 | 64th British Academy Film Awards | Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer | Monsters | Nominated |
| 2011 | 31st London Film Critics Circle Awards | British Film of the Year | Monsters | Nominated |
| 2011 | 31st London Film Critics Circle Awards | Breakthrough British/Irish Filmmaker | Monsters | Won |
| 2011 | 16th Empire Awards | Best British Film | Monsters | Nominated |
| 2011 | 16th Empire Awards | Best Newcomer | Monsters | Nominated |
| 2011 | 6th Scream Awards | Best Science Fiction Movie | Monsters | Nominated |
| 2011 | 6th Scream Awards | Best Independent Movie | Monsters | Won |
| 2011 | Trieste Science+Fiction Festival | Asteroide Award | Monsters | Won |
| 2011 | Russian National Movie Awards | Georges Special Prize | Monsters | Won |